HVACR QUESTIONS What is Hydronic Heating? Hydronic heating systems use water to move heat from where it is produced to where it is needed. The water within the system is neither the source of the heat nor its destination; only its “conveyor belt.” Heat is absorbed by the water at a heat source, conveyed by the water through the distribution piping, and finally released into a heated space by a heat emitter. What is Radiant Heating? Radiant heating is defined as a form of energy transferred through space. Instead of circulating heat by moving the air in the room, a radiant system heats objects - including people. It's most often installed under the floor in uncarpeted areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and garages. For added luxury, radiant heating cables can be embedded in a driveway - no more shoveling! What is Forced-Air Heating? A furnace works by drawing air inside a heat exchanger, where it is warmed with a flame of natural gas, propane or fuel oil, or with heated electric coils. A blower sends the warmed air through the house via metal ducts; it enters the room through a register or grill in the floor or wall. Indoor air is circulated continuously through the system, so a furnace filter is used to contain dust, pollen and other airborne particles. How do I know what size system I need for my home? One of the first things Emex Company will do is conduct a complete energy analysis of your home. By measuring windows, checking insulation, ductwork and building materials, as well as a variety of other factors, he can determine the right size system and equipment for your home. Why are rating numbers important? Rating numbers indicate the efficiency of heating and air conditioning equipment and are directly related to the amount of energy a specific model uses. The higher the rating, the more efficient the product, and the lower your energy bills can be. The federal government establishes rating guidelines and sets minimum efficiency levels. For cooling, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). For heat pumps, the rating is HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Gas furnaces are rated with AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). How can I control my energy costs? If you’re shopping for a new heating and air conditioning system, the best way to control your energy costs is to purchase a high efficiency variable speed system. Variable speed means your system varies its speed depending on your home’s heating and cooling requirements. Because of this, variable speed systems are more efficient than single-stage systems. Efficiency ratings also matter. When you match a 14, 16 or 18 SEER air conditioner or heat pump with a variable speed furnace or air handler, you can rest assured that you’ve selected a home comfort system that is one of the quietest and most energy efficient available today. HEATING FLOOR QUESTIONS Do I need an electric or hydronic floor heating system? Electric floor heating systems are ideal for heating smaller areas. There is little or no maintenance involved over time, and they are the easiest types of systems to install. Electric systems are not as complex and make great do-it-yourself projects. Also, depending on the system type, little or no floor buildup is required. Hydronic radiant floor heating is the most popular form of radiant heat, mainly because it has been around the longest. Hydronic systems are ideal for heating entire homes or buildings because they are generally less expensive and have lower operational costs when heating larger areas. When heating large areas, product and operational costs are usually less. Do I have to do the complete house? No! Today many people choose to do the tough to heat rooms or areas. Good examples are basements, garages, high ceiling areas, bathrooms and other tile areas. Additionally, this strategy keeps the costs down and still gives you the comfort of radiant heating. Can I air condition? Yes! There are several choices; conventional separate system, ductless mini splits, and high velocity. Essentially you would will end up with two systems, an air conditioning system and a heating system. There are cost and performance benefits to all three choices. We favor high velocity because, it uses very small air supplies and a central return. No large grilles, registers and noisy fans! Does it heat up fast? Radiant floor heating systems heat up and cool down slow resulting in very even heating. Once up to temperature the system will stay within one degree of the thermostats set point. SNOW MELTING QUESTIONS How does the snow melting system work? The concept is simple, take the caste iron wall radiator, turn it into an electric heating cable, stretch it across the slab and bury it in concrete, asphalt, or sand. When it snows, turn the heating cable on, warm up the surface, and watch the snow melt away. How much does it cost to operate? It depends on the type of system you have, how much snow melting area there is and the weather. A fully automatic system is more expensive to operate than a manual or semiautomatic system because it is continuously running on standby. The average operational cost for a snow melting system is approximately $0.28 per 100 square feet per hour. This figure is based on a system producing 28 watts/sq.ft. with a kwh rate of $0.10 per hour. If you know the square feet of the area you want to heat, and your kwh rate, you can calculate the operational costs with this formula: heatable sq.ft. times watts/sq.ft., divided by 1000, times your kwh rate. What do I need to consider? One consideration is if you have the boiler capacity or space for a boiler with enough capacity for snow melting. Another consideration is the type of system. A manual on/off system is the cheapest, but you must turn it on yourself and there will be a warm-up period before the snow melts. A semiautomatic system will turn itself on and off automatically and keep the area at a set temperature regardless of the presence or absence of snow or ice. A fully automatic system is the most convenient since it is always running and can detect the presence of snow and ice. What type of glycol should I use in my snow melt system? An inhibited Propylene Glycol solution should be used. Make sure the glycol used is rated for hydronic radiant heating systems and not for automotive engines. Hydronic glycols are formulated differently for the metals seen in boilers, pumps and other system components. HUMIDIFICATION QUESTIONS Will an humidifier installed in my home cause mold in my home? Modern humidifiers are designed to accurately control the level of humidity in the home. Some models come with an automatic humidifier control that allows the humidifier to deliver the optimum amount of humidity based on any set of outdoor conditions. This will typically range from 20% to as much as 45% when it’s warmer outside. This is of importance because scientific documentation shows that mold does not grow in humidity levels below 60%. The bottom line is that a good humidifier will not contribute to the growth of mold, when installed, operated, and maintained as recommended. Should the humidifier be installed on the return (cold air) or on the supply (hot air) ductwork? Any of our furnace-mounted units can be installed on either the cold air or hot air ductwork. We do recommend that if a power unit is used and is installed on the cold air ductwork, it be connected to hot water to maximize evaporation.